Dated November 03, 2004
In my maiden job interview that I attended recently, the interviewer asked: "What are your career goals?" How should I go about answering the question?
Akhilesh
Gujarat
A career goal helps you focus on what you want to do for a living. It can be a specific profession that interests you - like medicine, teaching, research and so on. Rather than limiting your future, a career goal may help you discover career possibilities that you wouldn't have thought of otherwise. There are several job possibilities in any chosen career.
For instance, if you choose medical profession, you can be a scientist, a nurse or a doctor.
A career goal will also guide you into doing what you want from your life -- rather than just drifting into a job.
Generally, a career goal is based on your skills and interests, career possibilities and job trends.
Once you zero in on a career, you should think strategically about the steps needed to accomplish your goal. Understanding and accomplishing your career goal will be a lot easier if you create a career plan.
A career plan determines your skills and interests, what career best suits your talents and what skills and training you need to establish yourself in your chosen career.
Most of the time, employers prefer employees to stay in the job for a while. Therefore, career goals of returning to school, starting your own business or moving to a different location will startle them. So, by asking this question, the interviewer would like to know whether you are really interested in the job or considering it as a stop-gap arrangement till you get a better opportunity. If your career goals fit with the direction the company is moving in, then your chances of getting hired increase.
I wish to send a formal letter of thanks to an interviewer who called me for an interview. What is the appropriate method?
Sushma
Adoni
Thank the interviewer for taking time out from his busy schedule to meet you. Express your enthusiasm about gaining an opportunity to serve the organisation. Reiterate your qualifications for and continuing interest in the position. Include any skills you might have forgotten to mention during the interview.
Emphasise particular skills or accomplishments that equip you to efficiently execute the job, if hired. Towards the end, briefly thank the interviewer again for considering you candidature. Express confidence in your ability to perform well in the organisation. State that you look forward to hearing from the interviewer and give a specific date if you plan to follow up with a phone call.
Writing a letter of thanks is also your second chance to include something you would have forgotten during an interview. Additionally, it will help to confirm your understanding of topics and issues discussed.
What are the career prospects available for librarians?
Ramesh Kotnana
Hyderabad
Librarians are increasingly in demand in schools, colleges, universities, research institutes, commercial/industrial/scientific organisations, newspaper industry, audio-visual media, public and private sector undertakings, government departments, national museums, public libraries and other organisations which require handling of large information.
Another source of employment is archives, which contain historical documents. Embassies also employ professionals for their information centres in major cities. Two major libraries in the country — The American Centre and the British Council Libraries based in prominent cities all over the country also offer employment opportunities in this field.
Library professionals can also diversify into teaching Library Science. However, for teaching jobs, higher academic qualifications are required. You can even become a lecturer after completing Master's in Library Science and later qualifying the UGC-NET.
If you are enterprising enough, you can even open a library for children or special groups of professionals, or even operate a mobile library.
Librarians can seek jobs at various organisations and documentation centres such as the National Archives of India, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), specialised libraries focusing on music, fine arts, drama, religion and philosophy such as the Sahitya Academy, Sangeet Natak Academy and Lalit Kala Academy, Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre (INSDOC) with regional centres at Bangalore, Calcutta and Chennai, Defence Science Information Centre (DESIDOC), New Delhi and National Social Science Documentation Centre (NASSDOC), New Delhi.
Ajai Roy
Bhilai
Typical jobs are of Systems Analyst, Systems Programmer, Computer Analyst, Software Engineer, Customer Service Adviser, IT Technician, Systems Integration Developer and IT System Administrator. Opportunities also exist in user organisations ranging from insurance and telecommunication firms to small set-ups like software houses and consultancies.
The career may also include the engineering aspects of designing computer systems, writing instructions to run a programme and to operating a computer. Jobs are also available in data processing departments of modern industries and in areas where computers and computer-aided systems are used. As IT has become indispensable in the functioning of almost every field like banking, telecommunications, public services, medicine, research, retailing, etc., opportunities for these professionals are aplenty.
The faq column deals with career concerns addressed to The C&K Management LTD. PO Box 2178, Secunderabad 500003 or emailed to faqs@cnkonline.com
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